Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia celebrates after beating Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza in the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals for his fourth straight state title at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza, front, is wrapped up by Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia during the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won his fourth straight state title in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza, left, and Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia get wrapped up during the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won his fourth straight state title in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza, left, and Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia get wrapped up during the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won his fourth straight state title in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia celebrates with his coaches after beating Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza in the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals for his fourth straight state title at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia celebrates after beating Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza in the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals for his fourth straight state title at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won in a 7-3 decision.

Michael Ciaglo, Special to the Denver Post

Pueblo County senior Brendon Garcia celebrates after beating Pueblo East senior Xavier Espinoza in the Class 4A 113-pound Colorado State Wrestling Championships finals for his fourth straight state title at the Pepsi Center Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Denver. Garcia won in a 7-3 decision.

In the hours leading up to the biggest wrestling match of his illustrious high school career, Pueblo County’s Brendon Garcia laid up sick and sleeping in a hotel bed. His father, Robert, paced anxiously.

“Earlier this afternoon I was kind of worried,” Robert Garcia said. “It was the week before regionals and he had influenza. He had a fever of 103.5 and these past couple weeks he’s been fighting it since.”

A scratchy throat. Tight chest and lungs. You could still hear it in Brendon’s voice Saturday night inside the Pepsi Center for the Class 4A, 113-pound championship round. Garcia faced Pueblo East’s Xavier Espinosa for the chance to win a fourth-consecutive individual state title.

“In the early rounds, I did think about (flu symptoms) a little bit more, but all the adrenaline pretty much blocked it out,” Garcia said. “I just wanted to rest today. I didn’t have the energy.”

Robert Garcia added: “He woke up right before the final and said, ‘I feel OK.’ I knew he’d come through.”

Dad was right. A little illness was no match for his son’s dominating run toward history.

Garcia cruised through to the third period versus Espinosa, a wrestler he battled often through childhood growing up in Pueblo, with a commanding 7-3 lead. However, Garcia became vulnerable to pin over the final 30 seconds, propped between his shoulder and neck upside down, and squirmed to keep his shoulders off the mat behind Espinosa’s pressure. But Garcia spun out of the compromising position just before the final buzzer rang.

“I knew he’s tough,” Garcia said. “I just had to finish it off and keep wrestling.”

The celebration that followed provided unforgettable moments already stained into Garcia’s memory. He held both arms in the air, crossed hands, and raised four fingers on each to represent his championship number. The crowd roared. Garcia made a round of handshakes, bolted back toward Pueblo County coach Eddie Sotto and jumped into his outstretched arms. Pure bliss.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment my whole life,” Garcia said. “To feel that is just amazing.”

This state championship regardless of illness, proved his toughest yet.

“There’s no pressure on the first ones,” Garcia said. “You’re just out there to make a name for yourself.”

Back inside the concrete hallways beneath the Pepsi Center stands, Garcia and his father shared a tearful embrace. Robert said it was caused by the joy of a fourth title and the sadness of this fact: Garcia’s high school wrestling career is over. He’ll compete collegiately at Wyoming next season.

“He’s worked his butt off for it,” Robert Garcia said. “He deserves it.”

Garcia labored through interviews Saturday night in the light of television cameras with his still-scratchy voice. But some things simply can’t be put into words.